Barcelona's Striker Search: Five Candidates to Replace Alvarez

Barcelona’s pursuit of a new No. 9 has hit its first major setback of the summer.

The club’s move for Julian Alvarez, long considered the preferred option to lead the line, is now regarded as “99% off the table”. Atletico Madrid have shown no desire to ease negotiations, the situation has barely shifted, and inside the club there is growing acceptance that Alvarez will not be wearing blaugrana this season.

So the search starts again. The need does not change.

Hansi Flick wants a striker who brings goals, movement and a different profile in the final third, someone who can stretch defences and finish the volume of chances Barcelona create. Replacing a target of Alvarez’s calibre, though, is anything but simple.

Several names have already moved to the front of internal discussions, from big-money, ready-made stars to younger forwards who represent more of a calculated risk. Five candidates now sit on Barcelona’s table.

Georges Mikautadze: Deco’s pick, Flick’s doubt

Inside the sporting department, Georges Mikautadze has emerged as one of the most seriously debated alternatives.

Deco is a strong supporter. The Villarreal striker comes off an excellent 2025/26 campaign, with 15 goals and six assists, and his overall impact has convinced the sporting director that he could offer something different to Barcelona’s attack.

The problem lies on the bench.

Flick is not fully sold. The coach is reported to have reservations about whether Mikautadze truly fits his idea of the No. 9 role and, at this point, “does not see it clearly”. For a signing of this scale, that split matters.

Any move would require alignment between Flick and the club’s hierarchy, especially with the price being discussed. Villarreal are expected to demand at least €70 million. That is a heavy outlay for a player the manager is not entirely convinced by, turning what Deco views as an opportunity into a complicated and delicate operation.

Viktor Gyokeres: goals, power – and a huge bill

Viktor Gyokeres offers a very different profile.

The Swedish striker is in his prime and has built a reputation as one of Europe’s most reliable goalscorers. His situation could open up depending on how Arsenal shape their own attacking plans, but any deal would still come at a premium.

Gyokeres is not just a penalty-box finisher. He drifts wide, attacks space, carries the ball at pace and can create for others. Those traits would fit naturally with Flick’s aggressive, direct style, which demands forwards who can run at defences and press from the front.

There are still doubts. Some within the game question whether his link-up play is consistently sharp enough at the very highest level. Even so, his scoring record is hard to ignore.

The real barrier is financial. Barcelona would be paying top-end money for a striker expected to deliver immediately, not one who can be eased in. Between transfer fee and salary, Gyokeres would rank among the most expensive options on the list, a decision that would shape the club’s budget in other areas.

Lautaro Martinez: the ideal fit locked behind Inter’s door

Every time Barcelona look for a striker, Lautaro Martinez’s name returns.

The Inter Milan captain has again been the subject of enquiries from the Catalan club. That is as far as it has gone. Inter have shown no willingness to entertain a sale.

Lautaro remains central to their sporting project, a leader and a consistent source of goals. There is no indication the Italian side are actively considering his departure, which makes any serious move extremely difficult.

From a sporting standpoint, the case is obvious. At 28, Lautaro still has several elite years ahead of him. He scores, he works, he performs in big matches and he understands the demands of a club chasing titles every season.

From a negotiating and financial standpoint, he is close to untouchable. Inter’s stance and the likely cost mean that, while Lautaro might be one of the best fits on paper, he is also one of the hardest deals Barcelona could realistically attempt.

Victor Osimhen: explosive, elite – and eye-wateringly expensive

If Barcelona want raw power and spectacle, Victor Osimhen sits at the top of that category.

The Nigerian forward continues to attract interest from Europe’s giants, while Saudi Arabian clubs remain prepared to push the market to its limits. Recent reports have even suggested a massive €150 million offer from Al-Hilal was rejected by Galatasaray for the 27-year-old, underlining just how high the stakes have risen around him. Arsenal have also been linked.

Osimhen brings pace, aggression, aerial dominance and a constant threat in behind. In a Barcelona side that spends long stretches camped in the opposition half, his ability to attack space and punish high defensive lines could be devastating.

The question is not about his talent. It is about the bill.

Any deal would demand a huge transfer fee and a top-tier salary. For Barcelona, it would mean committing to one of the largest investments of their current project. The club must decide whether Osimhen is the striker worth reshaping their financial planning around.

Nicolo Tresoldi: the gamble on tomorrow

Then there is the wildcard: Nicolo Tresoldi.

The 21-year-old German forward at Club Brugge does not carry the same global profile as the other names. He does, however, bring numbers and potential that have caught Barcelona’s eye.

Across 58 matches in all competitions in 2025/26, Tresoldi scored 23 goals. At 6ft 1in, he offers a strong physical frame, yet still looks far from his ceiling as a player. His contract runs until 2029, and Brugge value him at around €45-50 million.

That is not a bargain-bin fee. It is a serious investment in a player who has yet to prove himself at the very top level. Barcelona have already made contacts over a possible move, aware that this would be a calculated risk rather than a guaranteed solution.

The attraction is clear: unlike the older, established names, Tresoldi represents both present output and significant upside. If Flick and the sporting department believe his development can accelerate inside a bigger structure, he could evolve into a long-term answer to the club’s No. 9 problem.

Alvarez slipping away has not changed Barcelona’s need. It has only sharpened the question: do they bet big on a finished product, or stake their future on a striker who can grow into the role and define the next era at Camp Nou?